Tallahassee Immigration Raids: What You Need to know
On Thursday, May 29, a coordinated operation involving homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Florida Highway Patrol, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies resulted in immigration raids in Tallahassee, florida.
The Raid: Details and Scope
The operation, described as one of Florida’s largest immigration raids,
focused on a construction site at a student housing progress near Florida State University’s Doak campbell stadium in the CollegeTown area. Reports indicate that over 100 individuals were detained as officers checked identifications and permits.
A worker from a nearby construction site reported a similar raid occurred at their location an hour prior,leading to people fleeing the scene,some of whom were apprehended.
Official Statements and Agency Involvement
HSI Tampa spearheaded the operation, stating that they arrested more than 100 illegal aliens (some of which were previously deported and others with criminal backgrounds) at a major construction site in Tallahassee, Florida, during a targeted enforcement operation today!
The agency shared this information in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The post further detailed the nationalities of those detained, noting they were from Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia & Honduras, to name a few.
An ICE spokesperson issued a statement confirming that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations served multiple search warrants as part of an ongoing inquiry in the Tallahassee region,
but added that there is no additional information available at this time.
Who Was Detained?
Law enforcement officers, some masked and in camouflage, detained over 100 individuals near the FSU campus. An FSU spokesperson clarified that the university was not involved in the operation.
Detainees held near the site in a bus told reporters they were from Mexico, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Honduras. ICE later confirmed that individuals from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Colombia were also among those detained.
Where Were detainees Taken?
It is indeed presumed that detainees will be transported to ICE holding facilities in Baker County or Walton County. Though, Leon County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Shonda Knight indicated that a few
individuals facing criminal charges would be taken to the Leon County jail on ICE holds.
Both the tallahassee police Department and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office stated they were not involved in the operation.
Location of the Raid
The construction site targeted in the May 29 ICE raid is located at the intersection of West Gaines Street and Lake Bradford Road, near Florida State University’s Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.
Locating Detainees
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement provides an online detainee locator system for individuals 18 or older who have been in ICE custody for more than 48 hours. The system does not require personal information or an account to use.
Operation Tidal Wave: Previous Raids
In April, ICE and Florida law enforcement conducted “Operation Tidal Wave,” resulting in the arrest of 1,120 people. This six-day operation, which ran from April 21-26, was described as the largest joint immigration operation in florida history.
Arrests were made in the following counties:
- Alachua county
- Baker County
- Brandford County
- Brevard County
- Clay County
- Hernando County
- Hillsborough County
- Indian River County
- Orange County
- Pinellas county
- St. John’s County
- Sumter County
- Volusia County
According to Gov. Ron DeSantis, the nationalities of those arrested included:
- 437 from Guatemala
- 280 from Mexico
- 153 from Honduras
- 48 from Venezuela
- 24 from El Salvador
- 178 from elsewhere
in January, ICE officers arrested 32 undocumented immigrants with prior criminal convictions over two days in Palm Beach County.
The 287(g) Program
The 287(g) program is an ICE initiative that allows local law enforcement agencies to assist in identifying and removing criminal aliens who are amenable to removal from the U.S.,
according to ICE.
State troopers, local police officers, county sheriffs – they’re our eyes and ears. They encountered these criminal aliens out and about during their regular duties, and they’re able to go ahead and identify those public safety threats for us.
Todd Lyons, acting ICE director
Nearly 230 florida law enforcement agencies have signed 287(g) agreements, the most of any state in the nation. Over 130 of these agreements are under the task force model, allowing law enforcement agencies to enforce limited immigration authority with ICE oversight.
